However, I’m not sure about how Chris kicked it off. I personally know Chris and if there’s anyone
I know who thinks the same as Father Bob on these issues and is actively involved in
putting that into practice, then it’s him. It is a
real shame there was a misunderstanding.

I also know that he and DrugARM have worked long and hard to promote aid purely for the sake of meeting people’s needs.

The “whoever is not against you” thing springs from continued frustration at christians not wanting nonchristians involved in their aid efforts. It’s like they’re afraid nonchristians will offset their secret evangelistic plans.

If only more people would follow Jesus’ example of helping people out simply for the sake of filling their most immediate physical needs.

I think you can’t but religion into street work as you mentioned on the podcast. My comment “whoever is not against you is for you” (a quote from Jesus to his disciples) should have had a bit more context. It comes when the disciples are wanting Jesus to tell off some people who are doing Jesus like stuff but who are not part of their clan. Anyway what I was trying to say was…

1) I think faith based organisations doing street work should embrace others wanting to do the same thing even if they do not hold the same religious beliefs. Hence the organisation I work for (which is a non denominational Christian organisation) takes in non Christian volunteers who are “for what we do”

2) If you are ever going to have a meaningful conversation with someone on the street you cannot have any other motive but purely to help (not even preach at them once they have received help) In the organisation I work for training for all volunteers starts with a section on how we are not street evangelists so if people were hoping to do that they’ll need to find another organisations.

Sorry for the confusion…

If you can just quickly mention this in the next podcast would be greatly appreciated this particularly as I know that some people have thought that the Drug ARM WA street van team has been about preaching and I’ve worked hard to make sure this doesn’t happen. I’d hate to think I’d messed that up with a sloppy post on a website.

None the less what you said was relevant as there are organisations who do street work with with the primary aim to evangelise.

Not sure if you quite got my “why” angle. Can’t agree more with you about how ineffectual any help (be it one person or an organistaion) is when someone is walking around keen to let off their “let me tell you why I’m doing this” gun. (Nice imagery). I guess I’m interested in the “why” of what makes you tick precisely because you are the sort of person who has checked his guns at the door, and doesn’t going around telling everyone. I think this is why cameron started interviewing you in the first place (if I can remember back to podcast 1). I’d also like to hear the “why” of what makes cameron tick too. So, no mission statements just more of a cranky old man who’s not happy with what his fellow humans have to put up with it.

Anyway, these forums are always really bad for not understanding what people are trying to say. In short haven’t disagreed with anything you’ve said on the subject I hope you haven’t thought I have tried to say anything to the contrary. Apologies if I haven’t been clear. :)

…

Yes I agree that the rescue package comes first. I think someone once said “whoever is not against you is for you” ;). I guess I’m always interested to see Why someone is doing something especially when that something is something I see as important and also to see what else they see as important. Hence the desire to hear more of the why behind what makes you tick :) . I guess many of the helping agencies are faith based to some extent, I think the best ones are the ones who realise whoever is not against them is for them even if they have different beliefs motivating that action.

PayPal transactions using your credit card are just like a normal credit card purchase, not a cash adavance.

This places PayPal transactions in the same spot as the rest of your purchases so if you have 55 days interest free you get it on PayPal purchases as well.

Liam

Firstly I am an 18 year old male living in Hobart, Tasmania. I finished Year 12 last year and am this year part of a program run by the government called NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme). The NEIS program is run to help entrepreneurs start a business. I have been selling on eBay for the last two years and this year with the help of the NEIS program I am turning it into a full time business operation.

I found the last podcast very motivational, hence this response. Bob’s desire is great and Cameron’s pushing to get things going is even better. I am very keen to help and have been very interested in the talk of PayPal and eBay.

I believe it is a great idea to utilise eBay and PayPal to target the younger generation such as myself and it is the type of thing that could be easily publicised. The only thing that concerns me about using eBay and PayPal as a form of donation are the fees associated with their use. As a means to gain awareness they would be a great tool though.

I could see something like “Bob’s Million Dollar Countdown” where you start a Buy It Now eBay listing with a price of $1.00 a piece and a quantity of 1 million items. The way this would work would be that people could purchase as many “dollars” as they wish and as more and more are purchased the quantity would get smaller eventually running out after a million “dollars” are sold.

This type of event would make a great media release and I think it would get the nation and the eBay community captivated as they watch the million dollars get bought away. It would only work if a media release could go out in the national papers, TV, and the internet though but I’m sure you two have some connections and certainly JJJ and the podcast network is a great start.

I know many large companies such as car manufacturers often use eBay to run charity auctions and get their efforts released in the media. I think the million dollar countdown idea would be even better than other charity auctions that have already been run though because everyone can participate, that is everyone who has a dollar, not just people with money who can afford to blow their cash as a highest bid of thousands of dollars.

If you were interested in seeing this off the ground I would be more than willing to take care of the eBay side of things. Just get in contact with me at lmccarroll@iinet.net.au. It is the start of the idea and I’d love to see it through and develop it, as well as anything else I could help out with.

That aside I think the bus idea is great and as discussed above should be separated from religious pedalling. There are too many religious groups taking advantage of people in need, sometimes these people are unable to fully comprehend the situation as they may be mentally disabled and they end up in the middle of a cult. If I was in need I would immediately be suspicious of any religious group offering help because of this. If people are interested in religion they can find it themselves independently of getting help.

Anyway get in contact with me if you are interested in my idea as I would love to help.

Liam

P.S You can check out my eBay store here http://stores.ebay.com.au/Liam-McCarroll-Electronics, I am currently redesigning it and the new design hasn’t gone up.

Love the show - my favourite podcast. Really enjoy the questions to Bob about how he thinks we might solve some of the problems in the world (and how his faith informs that) rather than the problems of the Catholic Church. It can be easy sometimes to take pot shots at the church and because Bob is so different than much of catholic thinking on controversial issues it doesn’t work as well. But apart from that great!! Also if you can turn the stereo effect off that’d be good or just make the pan less severe that’d be nice.

Would love to hear you two nut out exactly what the “hope” buses might look like and what the mix of volunteers and workers might look like. I’m partly asking as I’m coordinating a street outreach program which has a mix of volunteers and workers. Which I replied a little about for episode 12.

Oooh just read the reply. Bob I’d be really excited about an open family alliance if you’re keen to talk more send me an email at streetvan@drugarmwa.org.au And more importantly when do I get my fancy little Byzantine arm band for answering guessing Benetton for the question in episode 12! ;)

Any way, I think the buses have to do more than feed people, but they will also have to do something easy and rewarding enough for volunteers to be involved. Keep up the great work guys. Keeping aiming for the Sunday night Bob show with John Safran in 2007.